06/02/2011, Sunday….. Johor Bahru, I’m home!

06/02/2011, Sunday….. Johor Bahru, I’m home!

For this entry, there are not so mmany I can write here because the story that I want to tell you just a little bit. About 5.30 a.m , we finally reached Johor Bahru. When we reached at my uncle’s office, my father went home which is not far from my uncle’s office to took his car (lucky the car battery is not OUT OF SERVICE because the car engine is not switch on for several days, B-D) . Others, call their relative/sibling/parent & etc to take them up from my uncle office.

After all of our backbags, luggages & the stuffs that we bought from China had been put into the car trunk, me & my family when home & put in all the backbags, luggages & the stuffs that we bought from China into our home.



Later on, I went upstair to take a bath, wudhuk, change cloth, solat Suboh & sleep till noon. Very exhausted.Hen Lei! Kesel! Penat! By tomorrow, I need to go back to the office after a week leave. Eventough I’m tired but I’m enjoy. B-).

P/S :- But when I saw my wallet after when back from China, my joy is dissapear, hahaha….. hahaha….. X-D < This reaction is enjoy, right? Hmmm, Faizi, Faizi….. (Hahahahuhuhu…… X-D).

B-).

05/02/2011, Saturday….. Last Day, Zai Jian Zhong Guo!

05/02/2011, Saturday….. Last Day, Zai Jian Zhong Guo!

This is our last day in Tianjin & also in China for this time. As usual on that morning, we had pack our backbags & luggages to get ready to check – out from Jin Ma Hotel. We put our luggaes into the bus trunk. Before me move on, we took breakfast first at that hotel restaurant.

Finished our breakfast & check - out, we move on to Tianjin Cultural Street. Here, mostly sell China culture stuffs like China opera mask, Chinese caligraph, ‘Wong Fei Hung hat’ & many more which related to China cultural.



After we finished walked & shopping here at Tianjin Cultural Street area, we move on to the next muslim halal restaurant for lunch & later on did solat Zohor at the room that provided by that restaurant. Finished our lunch & did solat Zohor, we stop by at Tianjin Food Street which located beside the restaurant. We don’t buy anything there because mostly foods which sell there were not halal.



It time for us to move on to the Tianjin–Binhai Internatinal Airport (TBIA). When we reached there & had took pictures with Maggie Ma & our bus driver, it time for us to said “Xie xie he zai jian Zhong Guo ! Wo men gai xing ren shi ni men !” which mean “Thank you & farewell China ! We glad to meet you !”. We went back to Malaysia via Air Asia.

After 6 hours journey in the airplane, we finally reached our homeland. We landed at LCCT KLIA Terminal, Sepang at night. After went through all standard procedure of security & passport checking, we took our luggages & went through the scanner at the airport. While waiting for our bus arrive to send us home at Johor Bahru, we decided to eat at McD. Other families in our group also eat at McD. They might miss McD very much but can’t eat it at China because McD in China not halal.

Finished ate at McD LCCT KLIA, in several minutes, our bus arrived. We put in all our luggages into the bus trunk & after that we ready to move on to Johor Bahru. During our journey to Johor Bahru, me, my family & several friends/relatives took this great advantage to sleep. Good Night! B-).

04/02/2011, Friday….. Day 6 Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

04/02/2011, Friday….. Day 6 Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

Last day in Beijing. I repeat, in BEIJING ya ! Not in China because later in the evening we will move on to Tianjin to visit several interesting place there. Eventough we move on to Tianjin later this evening but we had already packed up our backbags & luggages to put in to the bus trunk because we will check–out from Chang Feng Hotel that morning & will stay at Tianjin hotel at this night.

Our first destination on that day were Beijing Jade Center. This place is not far from Bird Nest Stadium & Water Cube Stadium because you can see both stadium clearly from this place. When we went to the main entrance of Beijing Jade Center, there are China kite seller flying his kites into the air easily by throw the kites without need to run for a while to flying the kites. B-). Like other previous place that we had visited, this place also gave us short brief & special offer to buy jade that available there. We had been given each of us a free small piece of jade as a souvenir, either we buy or not at that jade center.



Finished shopping at Beijing Jade Center, we move on to Dellmann factory, a kitchen appliance company which specific to sharp items like knives & blender. In short brief session about that company, each of us in the trip group (even not buy any product from there) will get souvenir from that company which is a small knive that suitable to cut small fruit like potato, tomato & many more.

Our next destination was Beijing Hard Rock Café. There, we took a lots of pictures with various of pose. We don’t buy t–shirts, pants & other merchandise which sell there because it too expensive & furthermore we had less money now because too many place we had shopping. B-P.

After took many pictures with various of pose at Beijing Hard Rock Café, we move on to the next muslim halal restaurant for lunch & later on did solat Zohor at Niujie Mosque. After that, we took advantage to walked for a while in Niujie Neibourhood area. For your information, Niujie were the biggest Muslim majority area in Beijing. Here were most living people of Hui ethnic in Beijing.

We went in to Niujie Muslim Supermarket which located not so far from Niujie Mosque. Here, got many stuffs & goods which is specified for muslim consumer in Niujie & the foods also halal & no doubts. After half an hour in the supermart building, I decided to went out from that building & went up to the bus. Other people in our group not yet went out from Niujie Muslim Supermarket to buy foods & others stuffs which available in that supermart.

While waiting for others to went out from that supermart, me, Maggie Ma & my father have a little chat outside of the bus. After an hour we’ve a little chat, they finally went out from the bus & aboard the bus. We move on to Tianjin. Zai Jian (farewell) Beijing & Ni Hao (hello) Tianjin! B-).

As usual, our journey from Beijing city to Tianjin city took about 2 hours & during that time, me & my several friends/relatives enjoy the beautiful view of China. There are several of us took this opportunity to sleep during the journey. They might be exhausted. B-).

By the time we reached Tianjin city, it already night. We stop by at a muslim halal restaurant which located in Tianjin city center for dinner. Finished our dinner, we move on to the hotel which we will stay for a night at Tianjin city center area, Jin Ma Hotel. During our journey in the bus to the hotel, there are also colourful fireworks on the sky of Tianjin.

We reached at the hotel, we check–in for one night only because by tomorrow we had to pack & return to Malaysia. After we get get our room key, we went up to our room & prepare to sleep. Wan an! (good night!). B-).

03/02/2011, Thursday….. Day 5 Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

03/02/2011, Thursday….. Day 5 Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

Day 5 in Beijing. We had been informed by Maggie Ma that our first destination, we will be visiting Bird Nest Stadium & Water Cube Stadium. This stadium is unique because of it architechture design which show their China culture identity itself. Maybe after this, if Malaysia want to be host of international sport event, Malaysia government need to build stadium which inspired by ‘tengkolok’ or ‘songkok’ perhaps, B-). We didn’t get the chance to enter the stadium because there are currently no event there on that time. Outside of the stadium, there were a huge jade been put in to make the landscape more pretty. From here, we can saw IBM China building which is unique. B-).

Because of that time were winter season, the river nearby stadium also freezen. We take this advantage to snap several pictures on icy river. However, Maggie Ma forbid us to go to the center of the freezen river because worried that ice will crack & we fall into the cold river since that time were the ending for winter season.



The next destination, we went to Chinese Herbal Center for free foot massage (I LIKE ! B-D). Beside of free foot massage, we also receive special offer with herb products which are good for our health. B-).

After finished free foot massage & bought several herb products, we move on to the next muslim halal restaurant for lunch & later on move to the mosque for solat Zohor. For this mosque, I can’t mention the mosque name because I forgot it (It OK to forgot mosque name as long not forget to solat. B-P).

Finished solat Zohor, we continue our journey to Summer Palace. Summer Palace are the rest place for China emperor in the era of Qing dynasty during summer season. This place surrounded by widen lake, suitable for pedaling boat with your love one, pheeewitttt ! B-P.

Because the lake had froozen, no boat on the lake but only people on the lake. Eventough there are signboard that prohibit people to walk or standing on the icy lake in Mandarin Language & English Language but there are still many people stand & walk on the icy lake including us.

As ussual, Maggie Ma prohibit us being so far from land because worried about our safety. At first, Maggie Ma prohibits us from being on the icy lake at all since there were many case of people fall into the icy lake & drowned eventough the warning had been given but after we coaxed & agitated her several time, Maggie Ma finally agreed to give permission to us with conditions not far from land & not jumping on the icy lake because that time were the end of winter season & that ice is on melting process.

According to Maggie Ma, the government put the signboard for public safety but if there are still ignore it & fall into the lake cause of the ice crack & crash, Maggie Ma said the government & authority will not take any responsibility because the warning had been given. In simple word “I had already inform you but you stubborn by ignore my warning. After this, if something happened to you, don’t blame me or even looking for me !” < That the simple words. B-). However, thank goodness because there nothing bad happened to us during our stand & walked on the frozen lake.

After finished walked in Summer Palace area, we’re ready to move on to Beijing Dr Tea House to buy China green tea. Here, we get free sampling & free drink of China green tea. It tasteless & a little bit brackish but it still OK! With me. B-) .

After finished drink & bought China green tea, we move on to the next muslim halal restaurant for dinner & later on went back to the hotel. When we reached to the hotel, we continued playing fireworks & at the same time watching other colourful fireworks on the sky of Beijing from the hotel outside area. After that, we went up to our to prepare for sleep. Wan an! (Good night!). B-).

02/02/2011, Wednesday….. Day 4 Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

02/02/2011, Wednesday….. Day 4 Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

Day 4 in Beijing. Our first destination on that day was Yashow Clothing Market. During our journey, we saw many shops were closed in the capital Beijing. This is because many people were already went back to their hometowns/village. Like Kuala Lumpur, mostly people who are living in the Beijing were not actually real Beijingers but they came from whole China to work here. Today was the first day of Chinese New Year celebration in the whole world.

We finally reached there. Yashow Clothing Market is a mall which focusing on textile industry. If in Malaysia, this kind of place are parable of Jakel, B-) . Here, don’t be surprise to see shops name in Malay Language like “Kedai Cadar/Langsir” which mean in English Language > “Cushion/Curtain shop” & even the shop worker also can speak in Malay Language influently (feel like still in Malaysia).



Yashow Clothing Market building had 4 storey which is2 storey below are selling cloths/wears & 2 storey above are selling electronic/gadget devices. Here, all stuff are not original (brands of cloth /gadget/electronic devices ) but cheap. Yashow Clothing Market located at Sanlitun Bar Street, District of Chaoyang, Beijing. For women who like to buy branded handbag but cheap aka NoT OrIgInAl, here got so many brand like Prada, Gucci, Calvin Klein & many more. For gadget maniac, here you can get “iPhone”, “Blackberry”, “iPad” & many more clone gadget. Eventough it quality is not the same as original stuffs but it cheap. If you want to buy clone gadget which are cheap but the best, I recommend you to get clone iPad because most clone iPad here had operation system (OS) Android. Not bad, isn’t it? B-).



After finished shopping at Yashow Clothing Market for a long hours (Losing money so fast, hahaha…. X-D), We rest our wallet for a while & went to the next muslim halal restaurant for lunch & later on we did solat Zohor at Nan Dou Ya Mosque.

After that, we continue our journey to the next shopping destination. We move on to Silk Street Pearl Market. Not like Yashow Clothing Market, the mall here more focusing on selling gadgets/electronic stuffs which been maniac by youths (like me, hahaha… X-D). Eventough most of the gadgets/electronic stuff here were clone but there are also original gadgets/electronic stuffs here selling a little bit cheap than Malaysia. There are iPhone, Blackberry, iPad, PSP & many more. There are also toys selling here like remote control helicopters, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels & many more. There are also culture section in the mall here like Chinese caligraph, ‘Wong Fei Hung hat’, China Opera mask & many more. I went out from the mall, I started thinking “Why this mall name, Silk Street Pearl Market? KWhy? It name didn’t fit with the stuffs that been selling in the mall.” B-).

After finished shopping for a long hour, it time for dinner at the next muslim halal restaurant & later on went back to the hotel. When we reached at the hotel, many of us took a great advantage to walked around neigbourhood to not far from the hotel area to enjoy the great nightview of Beijing & also colourful fireworks in the sky of Beijing. After an hour walked, we went back to the hotel & there are several among us playing fireworks outside hotel building to make Chinese New Year celebration more gala.

After we finished playing with fireworks, we went up to our room & prepare to sleep. Wan An! (Good Night!).

01/02/2011, Tuesday….. 3rd day Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

01/02/2011, Tuesday….. 3rd day Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

Day 3 in Beijing. Our first destination on day 3 was Beijing Crystal Shop. Here you can get stuffs which made by crystal like spectacles, rings & etc . Finished shopping at Beijing Crystal Shop, we continued our journey to Great Wall of China. During our journey to Great Wall of China, Maggia Ma give us a short brief about history of Great Wall of China. Maggie Ma also informed us that Mao Zedong once said “You’re not a warrior if you not step your foot to Great Wall of China !” make me think, what make it so special with this Great Wall of China.

When we reached at Great Wall of China, all of us look so excited. Maybe all of them want to get the title of “Warrior!”. The weather temperature getting more cold compare than Beijing city center. This might be cause of Great Wall of China are located at the mountains which make this area even more colder than Beijing urbans area. I’m ask Maggie Ma, can this time I bring the banner for photo session since I see the environment there are no army even police patrol in that area & finally Maggie Ma give the permission to carry that banner.



Before we start climbing the Great Wall of China, we taking picture together with the banner & background environment of Great Wall of China. Finished took picture, we start climb few miles of Great Wall of China. That time I started to understand why Mao Zedong said “You’re not warrior if not step your foot at Great Wall of China” because of steeps gradient steps & the construction is not accordance to appropriate engineering spefication standards because the step not flat, height of each step are different & sloping which make our climbing really challenging because a single mistake can cause us to fall down. B-).

After we finished our climbing as far as we can, we step down from Great Wall of China to the bus. Eventough our climbed are really challenging but we happy & what more now we’re now officially a “Warrior !” accordance of China people standard, B-) . If every visitors who visit Great Wall of China will get their ‘Warrior !’ certificate, I will definitely frame & hang that certificate at the wall of my family living room, hahaha….. X-D.

After all of us in the bus, we’re ready to move on to the next muslim halal restaurant for lunch (so exchausted WOOO ! climbed this great wall. Look so easy but try climb for yourself at Great Wall of China then you will feel how difficult & joy it was to climb this great wall.). During our journey to the next muslim halal restaurant, Maggie Ma told us this muslim halal restaurant are famous in Beijing because of tasty foods. What make it more interesting, this restaurant located at 1st floor of Beijing Ceramic Center. Here, you can see yourself beautiful China ceramic & vase.

When we reached there for lunch, we took this advantage to see by ourself the beautiful of China ceramic & vase. However, we aren’t buy it because the price is too extreme expensive & don’t be surprise if you see a few or several China ceramics & vases with price tag shown the price of more than hundred thousand Yuan (even if you convert to strong currency like USD, GBP, EUR & JPY, it still more than hundred thousand.). B-) . Here, you don’t need to waste your time for bargain because ceramics & vases which available here are definitely sell to the super luxurious person. The seller won’t entertaint you if you try to bargain & yet they ignore you. Here, you don’t need to worried to walk alone/separate because no sellers will surround you and force you to buy their ceramic & vase except if you crash their ceramic or vase because of your careless, you will be force to pay for the damage that you make.

We’re moving to the restaurant which located upstair in this building for lunch. After that, we did solat Zohor. What so good with this muslim halal restaurant is there is a room which provided for muslim to do solat beside the restaurant. So after lunch, we took a wudhuk & did solat.

After finished our lunch & did solat Zohor, our next destination was Rose Valley Snow World for skiing. When we reached there, I only sit in the bus & sleep. I’ve no mood for skiing (Eleh, just said it that you didn’t know how to skiing, Mr Faizi, B-P) .

After they enjoyed skiing for several hours, we ready to move on to the next shopping destination, Beijing Burning Cream Center. We had been given short brief & demo before we start our shopping activity here.

The next destination, we move on to the next muslim halal restaurant for dinner. Finished our dinner, we went in to the bust to went back to the hotel & prepare ourself to sleep. Wan an! (Good night !). B-) .

31/01 /2011, Monday….. 2nd day Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

31/01 /2011, Monday….. 2nd day Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

7.00 a.m , I’m ready to went down to the lobby & enjoy my breakfast. The breakfast meals at the hotel restaurant are halal & no doubt. If you come to China, bring also English – Mandarin dictionary (with pinyin roman). This is because many China people about more than 80% can’t speak English even a single word (B-P). If you’re not nring a dictionary, it will be a little bit trouble for you to communicate & understanding the local citizen, B-) .

Here, Chang Feng Hotel staff also can’t speak English Language, Malay Language & Indonesian Language. Maggie Ma is not always with us at the hotel. So, there are major part of us using signal language to communicate with them. I’m a little bit lucky because I can communicate a little bit in Mandarin. If my late granpa Mansor still alife & follow our fieldtrip, he can be our translator because my late granpa Mansor was a Chinese Muslim & know to speaks Mandarin. B-) .



Eventough the meals at the hotel restaurant are halal & no doubt but the meal type aren’t the same as mostly hotels in Malaysia. No toast & butter. No orange juice, no omelet & no kind of meals which you commonly see in mostly hotel in Malaysia. There is only China halal traditional foods like fried kway teow, dim sum, fried rice China style & others China halal traditional foods. I imagine if that time there a toast with butter & orange juice for me to eat in winter, PERGHHHH, SHIOOOK WOOO !!! B-) . But I just eat it what they got as long it halal. B-) . Eventough there are spoon & fork in the table but I eat it using chopstick because I want a some ‘feel’ of being China in China, B-P (Eleh, in Malaysia also got chopstick maaa, B-D).

After we finished our breakfast, we went out from hotel building to the bus. Before we went in to the bus, we take it picture at froozed waterpool outside of hotel building. There are part among us who nearly slipperly including me. Those who near fall down because of slippery are those who earlier take it picture at froozed waterpool because don’t know the ice was too slippery. Lucky for those who snap picture later because they had already ‘alert!’. B-).

When all of us in the bus, we ready to move on. Our first destination on that day was Tian An Men Square, the largest city square in the world. As ussual, during our journey to to reach the next destination in China, we take the advantage to enjoy the view of capital Beijing which rapidly developing. Main road in capital Beijing also look clean. Seeing the environment of Beijing on that time, I started to feel that I’m not in the developing communism state but feel like I’m in the developed democracy nation.

During our journey to Tian An Men Square from Chang Feng Hotel, I see there are many finance, banking & petroleum companies had been dominated by China’s GLC & I can said here nearly non of the industries fields come from foreign company. Not like Malaysia, other than Petronas, CIMB, & Maybank, Malaysia also had Shell, Esso, HSBC, Al – Rajhi Bank & etc . In China, there only Sinopec (Petroleum company owned by China government), Shenzen Bank, Bank of Beijing, Agriculture Bank of Beijing, Architectural Bank of China & etc . Maybe this is the main reasons why China economy growth rapidly because the critical industries had been fully owned & controlled by the government without competitors from foreign firms.

We reached Tian An Men Square, I bring fieldtrip banner but Maggie Ma forbade me to bring the banner because there are security & patrol by China army at Tian An Men Square & Forbidden City, I didn’t ask why & what it up to with the banner with the army at Tian An Men Square & Forbidden City because I had already know through information searching about China at Google & 1 of the main reasons why banner can’t bring to the Tian An Men Square is because Tian An Men 1989 event. What actually happened at Tian An Men Square in the years of 1989? I think you better ask uncle Google by yourself. Uncle Google know everything what actually happened at Tian An Men Square in the years of 1989. That why Uncle Google if had been banned from the land of China & Borther Facebook also get the same faith like Uncle Google. I don’t want to tell you more about Tian An Men 1989 event in this blog or whatever online, broadcast & printing medium because worried that I can’t go to China again eventough I’m CLEAN! B-).

Back to the story when we reached Tian An Men Square, our group moved forward to Tian An Men Square. When you’re walking outside in China, avoid walking alone / separate for your own safety. Walk together or at least walk in 2persons not only for your safety but also avoid from being ‘surrounded’ by several street seller who will force you to buy their stuff like example winter hat, bird nest stadium replica & many more. Once we step down from the bus, there are several street seller coax us to buy stuff from them. If you don’t want to buy from them & already give ‘NO!’ & ‘DON’T WANT!’ hand signal, my suggestion for you is say to them in Mandarin by saying “Dui bu qi, wo shuo bu yao ! Zhen bu yao !” which mean “I’m sorry, I said I don’t want & I really mean it !” & if it still not work, saying to them “Hao lah ! Wo mei qian. Zhen dui bu qi, xie xie ni !” which mean “Fine, I’ve no money. I’m very sorry. Thank you !” & if that still not working, keep on walking & just ignore the street seller. Remembered, don’t be rough with them eventhough they make you uncomfortable when they following you & don’t you’re your voice to them. Just ignore them only. B-) .

During our walked to Tian An Men Square, many army patrol with army winter uniform. Same goes with the police wearing police winter uniform. When we reached at Tian An Men Square, we took a picture of Tian An Men Suare together. After photo session, we continue our walking to Forbidden City. Since the road traffic are busy, Maggie Ma led us to the Forbidden City through underground tunnel without need to cross the busy road. When we reached the Forbidden City, I see the picture of Mao Zedong hang in the center of Forbidden City main entrance. We continued our walking to went inside the Forbidden City. Forbidden City previously was a ancient China emperor till the collapse of Qing dynasty empire era, politic of China had entered the new era when absolute monarch had been replaced with communism republic system. After the absolute monarch system ended in that nation, Forbidden City opened to the public visiting as tourism destinastion. Kind a huge & wide of this Forbidden City because I’m feeling that we walking in the Forbidden City about more than an hour. Eventough the Forbidden City is huge, the environment view still beautiful & charming. There are group of armies marching in the Forbidden City.

After we finished walked in the Forbidden City, we went out from Forbidden City to the bus for our lunch time at the next muslim halal restaurant. When we reached there, there are 2 – 3 seller who look like Xinjiang / North West of China ethnic selling their traditional snack & shout in Malay Language “Rasa, rasa ! Halal, halal !” which mean “It halal ! Try taste !” outside the restaurant. My mom bought that snack & went in to the restaurant for lunch. After we finished our lunch, we went out to the bus. There were a local citizen auntie here selling table veil which the weave look like came from north west of China because I’ve seem that design at ‘Google’. After thet bought that table veil, they went in to the bus & we move on to Ma Dian Mosque for solat Zohor.

What make it interesting when you pray at China mosques in winter, there are hot water wudhuk place but the water is extremely hot. Therefore to neutral the water temperature, we took an empty mineral water bottle & fill up with half of cold water & another half of hot water, then we close the bottle with bottle cap & we shake the bottle & then using that water as wudhuk water. After finished taking wudhuk, we went in to the mosque for solat (pray). In Malaysia, when Malay Muslim & Chinese Muslim doing solat together, imam (Islamic priest) ussualy are Malay but here they (Chinese Muslim) are the imam. B-).

After finished doing solat Zohor, we move out from the mosque went in to the bus which waiting for us outside of the mosque. When we’re about to leaving the mosque, I’m gived alms to one of mosque committee using currencies notes of Malaysian Ringgit & China Renminbi Yuan. Why I’m giving alms using 2 currencies instead of 1 currency only? Here the answer > In China, their government had anchored their China Renminbi Yuan currency to US Dollar currency only. That why if you want to give alms using Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) only, this will be complicate them to convert the currency in their country. That why I gived alms used 2 currencies which is the alms that I used the currency of China Renminbi Yuan, they can spend it meanwhile the alms that I used the currency of Malaysian Ringgit, they can take it as souvenir. B-) . According to Maggie Ma, majority of China muslim community were Hui ethnic eventough majority ethnic in China were Han. Hui ethnic majority founded in north west of China provinces like Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu & Ningxia.

The next destination after done doing solat Zohor at Ma Dian Mosque is Famous Silk Centre for shopping to buy China silk. Before we start shopping to buy China silk, a short brief about how China silk process had been done was given to us in English Language. During my walked in the Famous Silk Centre building, I saw a picture of 4th former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad shake hand with former People Republic of China President, Jiang Zemin which been hanged at the wall of that building. After the short brief had been given, now they can start shopping to buy China silk which been dominated by women. After finished bought China silk, it time to went the next destination.



Where are our next destination? We went to Fresh Water Pearl Center. Still with the shopping activity but this time we buy pearls. Same as Famous Silk Centre, before the shopping activity begin, a short brief about China pearl had been given first to us with special promotion to attract buyers especially women to drop money here. B-).

After finished shopping at Fresh Water Pearl Center, the shopping activity continued but this time we went to Sunny Gold Street Market. Here had no short brief like the previous shopping place before, B-). Here got t–shirts, shoes, pants, toys, gadjet & many more but overall, cloth, pants & shoes are the mostly sell here.

You might been heard your friends or relatives who return from China said that stuffs from China are quiet cheap. Yes, stuffs from China are quiet cheap but remembered, you need to bargaining & surveying first before you decide to purchase or not. This is because seller there know you’re tourist & once you step in to their shop, the price rate going up to gain more profit than ussual. This is happened to our tour group & I even do believed it also happened to others foreign tourist. Once I step in to the Sunny Gold Street Market, I found out the price are a little bit too expensive eventough we had convert China Renminbi Yuan to Malaysian Ringgit to see the comparison. Make it worse, there are no price tag been put in their shop which make the seller can say whatever price they want. B-).

To bargain, you need to switch off your emo for a while because they hardly trying to sell expensive to you so that they can gain more & more profit for themselves with any kind method of selling psychology like “ You crazy arrr ? Can’t not with this price lah. I’m death you know !”. What a great acting they had. B-) . There were a scenario when we nearly want to pay, suddenly we changed our mind not to purchased & went out from there, get ready with with WTF words from the seller in Mandarin like “Bendan!” which mean stupid, “Shang Qing Ping !” which mean crazy & many more of WTF words. B-). My advise, if you don’t have intention to shopping, better don’t show your interest to buy because this will annoying the seller eventough you’ve right not to purchase after you’re getting ready to pay but suddenly change your mind.

There are several seller who aren’t influent in English Language, Malay Language & Indonesian Language. For tourists who can communicate in Mandarin even a little bit might not facing a problem to communicate with local seller but for tourists who can’t communicate in Mandarin at all, hand signal & calculator obly the better solution to communicate.

When you enter shop for shopping in China, make sure you’re not alone because might be fear that you will be surrounded by seller who look coax but forcing you to buy their stuff. Make sure you at least have companion with you either your friends or relatives.

You’ve right to bargain in China because mostly stuff which been sell here were not original from cloth brand to electronics brands stuffs ( Even mostly iPhone, iPad & Blackberry also not original ). B-) . Watching tourist & seller argue & fight for bargaining is a normal scenario in China. It not limited to Malaysian tourist but even European tourist also the same. B-).

After an hour in Sunny Gold Street Market, I decided to take a rest for a while outside that building. There were many of us still inside the Sunny Gold Street Market for shopping. Eventough Beijing are rapidly moving forward but the beggars volume are also increase. There are several beggars who came to me beg for money & I give a few Yuan to them. Feel awkward why Beijing which more developed than Kuala Lumpur had many beggars. Maggie Ma explained that not only Beijing rapidly developed but also others China main metropolitan cities also developed. According to her, eventough China getting developing from time to time with many tall & modern skyscrapers but the reality is the poverty also hike up. This is because in China, there were no middle class people. There are only elite class people & poor class people not like Malaysia which had middle class people who not rich yet not poor. According to Maggie Ma again, rich people in China are very super rich & poor people are very poor.

That why many development been built & develop in China because that development are only for elite class people & not for the whole China people generally. Poor people have to work harder to sustain their life survival. I keep on talking with Maggie Ma & asking “If that so, why China economy growth are remarkable?” & Maggie Ma answered “If many poor China people work hard to sustain their life survival & at once make the rich get even more richer in China, how come China economy growth are not remarkable?” Maggie Ma continued “Eventough we are poor, what else can we do other than keep on working to sustain our life survival? We’re not democracy nation which can throw out our opinion or even to make a street protest” I’m speechless for a while. I’m started thinking about my nation, Malaysia. Suddenly I’m feel fortunate and thanks god in this soul. When the first time I step my foot on this land of Beijing, China ini, I’m starting to feel impress with their developing they get as result I criticized my own nation but it appear that my nation had her own unique ways in bringing her people to the top of glorious.

After all of us finished their shopping, we went up to the bus & ready for next muslim halal restaurant for dinner. On our journey for dinner, I see my friend put in local line sim card into her cellphone. For your info, if your cellphone line got no ‘roaming’, you can purchase local line prepaid sim card here to make calling or text messaging. I encourage you to use China Mobile line here because of it better coverage when in China. B-).

We reached the next muslim halal restaurant for dinner, they look like exhausted. Of course, all days shopping can make our energy went down, finally we get energy back after we finished our dinner. After dinner, our bus send us back to the hotel. When we reached at the hotel, we went to up to our room but there were part of us not yet sleep. My mom invited me went out with herserching & buying fruits & drinks for a lite supper. We walked about 500 metre from hotel building, there is a fruits stall. “Lao ban niang, zhe ge duo qian ma?” (Lady Boss, how much is this ?) I’m asking the seller how much price of a box of strawberries there. “Na ge, yi xiang, yi shi ba kuai!” (That one, one box, 18 yuan > about MYR9.00 per box). “Ok, er xiang !” (Ok, 2 boxes !). A local citizen compliment my ablility to speak Mandarin & asking me where I came from & I reply “Wo shi Malaixiya ren !” (I’m Malaysian !).

Seeing this local citizen, I think she know a lot about Malaysia because she ask me what race am I? Malay, Chinese, Indian or what? I said “Wo shi Malai ren buguo wo you de gong gong shi muslim hua ren !” (I’m Malay but I had my late granpa who is Chinese Muslim). As I mentioned earlier previously which I can communicate little bit in Mandarin & when that local citizen continued talked to me in Mandarin, I answered “Shemian? Oppps, dui bu qi. Wo wang le. Wo keyi shuo hua wen yi dian dian. Wo bu mingbai ni xian zai shuo ge wo!” (Pardon? Opss, sorry, I’m forgot that I can communicate in Mandarin a little bit. I don’t know a single word that came out from your mouth right now.). That local citizen said it OK! & what I speak just now was good enough. That what she said.

After bought the fruits, me & my mom went to grocery shop nearby to buy a soft drink. Here, we’ve no doubt buying drinks compare than foods because we assure that beverages here are halal & no doubt (Exclude alchohol drink). After finished bought fruits & soft drinks, we went back to the hotel. I eat a few strawberries before I sleep. Let SLEEP! Wan An! (Good Night!).

30/01/2011, Sunday….. 1st Day, Ni Hao Zhong Guo!

30/01/2011, Sunday….. 1st Day, Ni Hao Zhong Guo!

The noisy bus diesel engine make me awake from my sweet sleep, As promised, the bus arrived 12.00 a.m sharp (according my watch ! other people watches, I’ve no idea). It still raining but not as heavy as previous hour. Even it still raining, We still continue put in our luggage into the bus trunk. After we finished put all our luggage to the bus trunk, All of us are ready to aboard to LCCT KLIA Terminal from Johor Bahru.

During our journey to LCCT KLIA Terminal, many of us including me pursue our agenda to continue our sleep in the bus while waiting to arrive at LCCT KLIA Terminal, Sepang. Our bus stop at Rest & Recreation Area (R&R) Machap for supper, just enough to store our enegy before we continue our journey to LCCT KLIA Terminal, Sepang.



We arrived at LCCT KLIA Terminal, Sepang about 5.30 a.m . Eventough, it still 5.30 a.m , LCCT Terminal already pack with human capacities at that terminal. Crowded & busy ! While waiting for our turn to check – in, me & my family take this great advantage to take breakfast at Marrybrown LCCT KLIA.

Just coincident, after we finished our meal, it our turn to check – in at Air Asia flight counter. A little bit tired when we had a long queed just for to check – in our flight but our excited beat our exchausted. After we finished check–in our flight & luggage, as usual, the standard procedure of security & passport checking are excetuted. After the standard procedure of security & passport checking had been done by Malaysia imigaration officer to us, we went to departure lobby.

While waiting for our aircraft, we stop by at free duty chocolate shop to buy some chocolate so that we can eat it in the aircraft (We hide it our chocolate in our backbag, B-P). There are few people among our group take this advantage to go to the toilet nearby for ‘wee – wee’ or ‘poo – poo’. Maybe they not comfortable using small toilet in the aircraft. B-) .

When announcement had been made about our flight, we moving to departure gate for ticket checking. It still raining in Malaysia. Lucky for us, Air Asia provide umbrella to their passenger when it raining from departure gate to the aircraft. When I reach the seat, I choose to sit beside the window to enjoy the outside view. Eventough this is not my first flight but this is my first with Air Asia & also my first international flight. What can I said about Air Asia is the seat is a little bit small compare to Malaysia Airlines (previously known as Malaysia Airlines System, MAS). However that are not suprising me because Air Asia ticket rate are far cheaper than Malaysia Airlines. People said got price, got image. B-) .

Like other airways, security instruction must be show first before aircraft ready to take off with flight captain giving the audio briefing & the flight attendant giving the visual briefing. After finished the security instruction, Air Bus aircraft which owned by Air Asia is ready to take off. My watch show me the time is 8.30 a.m . As announced by that aircraft pilot, the flight will take about 6 hour to arrive to Tianjin–Binhai International Airport (TBIA). During the flight, many among us including me take a sleep. 6 hours flight with doing nothing > can’t text messaging, can’t calling, can’t surf the internet, can’t play PSP & so many can’t obviously bored. That why, we’ve no other choice than to take a nap only. Before I sleep, I take a nice outside view of the sky.

When it time to eat, many of us awake by ourself because the pilot captain had announced us 10 minutes before the meal start to sell. Not like Malaysia Airlines which had include meal package into 1 ticket, Air Asia are different. Don’tbe surprise when you need to pay MYR6.00 just to enjoy an instant noodle of Maggi Cup only. Other than Malaysian Ringgit, foods & beverages which been sell in the aircraft can also be purchase with American Dollar & China Renminbi Yuan. Other than foods & beverages, there also other merchandise sell in the aircraft like Air Asia caps, Air Asia key – chain & many more. But if you normally unwilling to spend your money, my simple advise for you is you don’t need to spend for that merchandise because you will be surprise to know th price rates. B-) .

My watch show me the time is 2.30 p.m . Malaysia time & China time are same since they share the same longtitude. Fligt captain informed us that we now in Tianjin skyspace & the aircraft are ready to landing anytime after they get permission from TBIA control tower for landing at TBIA’s lane.

The weather out there seem hot to me since the sun look bright. After the aircraft landed & fully stoped, we went out from the aircraft & I feel the weather seem so cold. At first I think the aircond at that airport building is too cold but it obviously too cold in Tianjin. Moral of the story > Don’t judge the book by it cover. B-) . Our group moving forward to passport checking counter at that airport. Eventough there are many people are queed for passport & visa checking, the airport management & China immigration officer are so efficient without too many bureaucracy & when see people are crowded in line for passport & visa checking, other counter are open for make the passport & visa checking even more faster & smoother.



Afte finished passport & visa checking, we immediately went to luggage collect area to collect our luggage. After we collected our luggage, we went through body scanner & material scanner to airport lobby. No bureaucracy during the procedure at that airport. The best I can said ! Maggie Ma, our tour guide had waiting for us at airport lobby to led us to Beijing. Maggie Ma is a Halal Tours (China) & Tiram Travel (Malaysia) tour guide. What make so interesting in China now, many China people can speak in Archipelago Malay especially in Indonesia Language. Maggie Ma can speak Indonesian Language. Since Malaysian Language & Indonesian Language are similar (comparison like of Mandarin & Cantonese or English American & English Britain), so it not a big deal for us to communicate & undestanding.

We been led to the bus which will carry us to People Republic of China capital, Beijing. We went out from the main entrance of that airport building to the bus & the weather temperature outside here are very, very cold compare than inside the airport building. Because of I feel extremely cold, I walk quickly to the bus. After all the luggage had been put in to the bus trunk & all of us in the bus, we ready to move on. Maggie Ma inform us that our journey from Tianjin city to Beijing city will take about 2 hours (like Johor Bahru to Malacca or Kuala Lumpur to Muar). My watch show me the time is 3.00 p.m & I assume we will reach capital Beijing at 5.00 p.m .

During our journey to capital Beijing, I enjoy the view of China which is beautiful & charming. I snap several photo of China panorama with my digicam. The first half an hour our journey to capital Beijing, Maggie Ma give us short brief about China from perspective of social, politic & ekonomy. Many among us can’t sleep including me because we desire to enjoy the view of China which is totally different from our country, Malaysia which for us is already common for us, B-) .

As expected, 5.00 p.m sharp, we finally reached capital Beijing. The view of metropolitan city of Beijing is awesome & modern. It hard to believe this is Beijing which been rule by communism state like China. Who said communism state can’t move forward? But from what’ve been informed by Maggie Ma, evebtough China is rapidly developing, the joy of freedom yet still so far for China people to grab it like freedom of speech, freedom to make a choice & etc . Social network website like Facebook & search engine website like Google had been banned in China eventough the sensitive issue like China government policy & the community which been posted at Facebook & Google only ‘minority’.

My watch show me the time is 5.30 p.m . Like I mentioned it before, China time Malaysia time are remain the same but 5.30 p.m in Beijing look alike 7.30 p.m in Malaysia (dusk time). We stop by at a muslim halal restaurant for dinner. Obviously, the foods is great ! .

After we finished our dinner, we continue our journey to Jin Sha Theatre to watch spectacalur acrobatic musical theatre. When we reached there, there is a boiled potates seller promote his boiled potatoes in Malay Language “Sepuluh, sepuluh Yuan !” which mean “Ten, ten Yuan !” . Many of us only smile when heard the boiled potatoes seller sell his potatoes in Malay Language. Only that Malay Language words he knows it. Me & my few others friends also bought that boiled potatoes. Kind a tasty when we eat this potatoes which is hot & sweet plus we ate it in the cold night. VERY SHIOOOK WOOO !!!

We went in to the Jin Sha Theatre. Before we went in to the theatre hall, there is a seller who sell winter wear like caps, hat, glove & several accessories in that building lobby. Quiet cheap, we didn’t resist this opportunity to buy. After I bought winter hat, I went in to the theatre hall & take a seat. After all of us had their seat in the theatre hall, the acrobatic show begin. I Beside our group, there also other group of tourist from different tours agencies. There also European who watch the acrobatic show. Quiet impressive especially the part of ridersin the cage. So awesome ! .

After the musical acrobatic show finished, we went out to the bus & move to Hotel Chang Feng. When we went out from Jin Sha Theatre building, the boiled potatoes seller still there. I bought that boiled potatoes again & went in to the bus. After all of us already in the bus, we move to Chang Feng Hotel for check – in & stay there for 5 days 5 night starting that night > Sunday night, 30/06/2011.

When we reached to Chang Feng Hotel which located in the district of Feng Tai, Beijing, we quickly take out our luggage from the bus trunk & put in for a while at hotel lobby while waiting to check – in & get room key. After finished check–in & get the room key, Maggia Ma inform us that by tomorrow morning, we will aboard the bus at 8.30 a.m to go to interesting destination in the capital Beijing. After we had been informed, we immediately take an elevator & went to our room to take bath, changing cloth, rest & sleep for restore our energy for tomorrow. Me and my little brother share a room which had 2 bed meanwhile my parent get a room & my sisters also get a room. In the simple word, a room for 2 – 3 persons for our groups.

Before I sleep, I charge my cellphone first eventough I can’t eventually use it (roaming charge are expensive either incoming or outgoing call) & also I charge my digicam batteries. After I charge my cellphone & digicam batteries, I switch on the TV to watch China TV channel. I’ve swith channel several time but there is no TV program & segment in Malay Language. Malay TV Channel? I doesn’t want to talk about it (Eventough there is no China citizen from the race of Archipelago Malay but there are lot numbers of Archipelago Malays who came from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore & throughout South East Asia to study, works & living in China). Lucky for me, I can understand a little bit Mandarin Language. That the advantage & benefit of Malaysia. Eventough majority of Malaysian were Malays but there also had TV channel for Chinese & Indian & also several TV programs & segments in foreign languages in Malaysia other than Malays Language, Mandarin Language, Tamil Language & English Language. The one & only channel other than Mandarin Language in China is CCTV News (previously known as CCTV 9) which been broadcasted 100% in English Language. After half an hour watching TV, I switch off the TV & go to sleep. This is my first time in my life history when I sleep at the hotel without swith on the airconditioning. Why not swith on the airconditioning? Doesn’t feel hot? This is my answer > Still want to ask? Think it yourself deeply. OK, I want to sleep. Wo hen lei, wo yao shui. Wan an ! (I’m tired, I want to sleep. Good night !).

29/01/2011, Saturday….. Preparation To China…..

29/01/2011, Saturday….. Preparation To China…..

That morning, I woke up early (Ussually, after solat subuh, I continue my sleep & wake up a little bit late to go to work). That Saturday morning, I’m not working. I don’t know why, I’m not feeling so sleepy after solat subuh, I only sleep for half an hour after solat subuh (Ussually an hour).

I’m check my passport & visa. That morning, I’m keep ‘Google-ing’ about Beijing & Tianjin, People Republic of China. In my ‘Google’ search, I found out, the weather of Beijing & Tianjin that time very cold with temperature below 10 degree celcius & sometime the temperature could reach below 0 degree celcius.



While I’m keep searching more information about Beijing & Tianjin, my uncle call me through cellphone & ask me to go to printing shop to design & print “China Fieldtrip” banner.

Without wasting time, I took my car key & went to my uncle house & had discussion with him about that banner graphic design. After decision had been made, I bring that design draft to graphic printing shop for final design & print the banner. I left for a moment & told to that shopwoker that I will come back in afternoon. They said OK ! & I went home.

When I’m home, I continue my searching about Beijing & Tianjin, China at Google. After that, I check my snow cap, jacket, jeans & other cloth which suitable with weather condition at China which I had mentioned earlier are very cold.

After finish checking all my clothes, I’m checked the notes of Renminbi Yuan (People Republic of China currency) which had been changed from Malaysian Ringgit. I’m keep starring at the picture of Mao Zedong at that Yuan note, not because of I want to know the note is counterfeit or not but want to know who is more ‘macho’ > me or him (Mao Zedong)?

For your information, Mao Zedong was the 1st China president after Qing dynasty empire imperial collapse. He the one who change China political system from monarchy system which been rule by an emperor to the republic nation base on communism system.

After starring the notes of Yuan several times, I went back to graphic printing shop to take the banner. After paymemt had been made, I’m leaved & went to Plaza Angsana & Giant Hypermart, Tampoi. I went there to take a walk for a while & went home late evening to do final checklist before we went out from home tonight. After finish my final checklist, All my stuffs which I want to bring to China, I put it into my packbag. My whole family had finished pack their stuffs into packbags & luggages. We’re getting too excited. B-) .

When Maghrib arrived, it starting to rain. I’m look from positive perspective & saying from bottom of my heart “Maybe this bless rain will bless our journey to China. B-)” . At 11.00 pm, we gather at my uncle office because the bus which will take us from Johor Bahru to LCCT KLIA Terminal will stop there (my uncle office). Beside my family, there also other families & my uncle’s workers gather there waiting for the bus to arrive at 12.00 am - Sunday, 30/01/2011 .

Maybe someone of you ask “Why don’t we take direct flight from Sultan Ismail International Airport, Senai (LTASIS)?” My answer – this is because LTASIS international direct flight are only limited around South East Asia nations only (exluding Republic of Singapore & Republic of Timor Leste). Because of we want to save cost, we decided to rent a bus which will bring us from Johor Bahru to LCCT KLIA Terminal, Sepang. How about Changi? We didn’t take flight from there because there are several families who are follow our China fieldtrip are already waiting for us at Kuala Lumpur.

While waiting for bus arrival, we had chat among us to avoid bored. Since it still raining, there are several among us take this great opportuninty to sleep for a while. B-) .

TO BE CONTINUED…..

06/02/2011, Ahad….. Selamat tiba dari Beijing ke Johor Bahru!

06/02/2011, Ahad….. Selamat tiba dari Beijing ke Johor Bahru!

Untuk entri blog kali ini, tidak banyak yang dapat aku tulis kerana cerita yang hendak disampaikan terlalu sedikit & ringkas sangat. Lebih kurang pukul 5.30 pagi, kami pun tiba di Johor Bahru. Setibanya kami di pejabat Pak Usu aku, bapa aku pulang ke rumah kami yang terletak tidak begitu jauh dari pejabat Pak Usu aku untuk ambil kereta (nasib baik bateri kereta tak kong sebab dah berapa hari enjin kereta tak dihidupkan, B-D) . Yang lain, ada yang menghubungi saudara–mara/ adik–beradik/ibu–bapa & sebagainya untuk mengambil mereka di hadapan pejabat Pak Usu aku. Ada juga yang menumpangkan kereta mereka di rumah Pak Usu aku kerana laman rumahnya luas & terletak tidak jauh dari pejabat Pak Usu aku.

Setelah bag, bagasi & barang–barang yang dibeli dari China dipunggah & dimasukkan ke dalam bonet kereta, aku sekeluarga pun terus pulang ke rumah & memunggah semua bag, bagasi & barang–barang yang dibeli dari China masuk ke dalam rumah.



Aku kemudiannya naik atas untuk mandi, ambil wudhuk, salin pakaian, solat Suboh & terus lena sampai tengahari. Sangat–sangat keletihan.Hen Lei! Kesel! Esok kena naik sambung kerja setelah puas bercuti. Walaupun sangat letih tetapi seronok. B-) .

P/S :- Tetapi bila tengok dompet setelah pulang dari China, terus jadi tidak seronok, hahaha….. hahaha….. X-D < Ini reaksi tidak seronok kah? Hmmm, Faizi, Faizi….. (sambil menggelengkan kepala).

B-).

05/02/2011, Sabtu….. Hari Terakhir, Zai Jian Zhong Guo!

05/02/2011, Sabtu….. Hari Terakhir, Zai Jian Zhong Guo!

Hari terakhir kami di Tianjin & merupakan juga hari terakhir kami berada di China untuk kali ini. Seperti biasa pada pagi itu kami telah siap berkemas untuk daftar keluar dari Hotel Jin Ma. Kami memunggah bagasi & masukkan ke dalam bonet bas persiaran. Kami menjamah sarapan terlebih dahulu di restoran hotel tersebut.

Setelah selesai menjamah & daftar keluar, kami pun segera berangkat menuju ke Tianjin Cultural Street. Di sini terdapat banyak deretan kedai yang menjual apa sahaja yang berkaitan dengan kebudayaan China seperti topeng opera China, kaligrafi Cina, ‘topi Wong Fei Hung’ & lain–lain lagi yang berkaitan dengan kebudayaan China. Di sini juga terdapat barang–barang jenama tiruan seperti bag tangan Prada, Gucci, Calvein Klein, jam tangan Omega, cermin mata Ray Ban & bermacam lagi. Walaupun barang–barang di sini adalah tiruan tetapi kalian tidak dapat tawar–menawar ‘gila–gila’ punya seperti mana yang kalian lakukan di Beijing kerana barang yang mereka jual di sini sudah sedia murah & mereka tidak seperti rakan niaga mereka di Beijing yang meletakkan harga ikut sedap mulut sahaja. B-). Namun begitu, tawar–menawar masih dibolehkan tetapi biarlah yang sewajarnya kerana sekiranya kalian tawar–menawar melampau sangat, peniaga di sini tidak akan melayan kerenah kalian.



Selesai bersiar–siar & membeli–belah di sekitaran Tianjin Cultural Street, kami segera berangkat menuju ke restoran muslim halal untuk menjamah makan tengahari & menunaikan solat di ruang yang telah disediakan oleh pihak restoran. Selesai menjamah makan tengahari & menunaikan solat Zohor, kami pun singgah sebentar ke Tianjin Food Street yang terletak betul–betul bersebelahan restoran tersebut. Seperkara yang aku hendak tambah di sini ialah sepanjang kami berada di China, ke mana sahaja kami pergi & berada, kami pasti akan bertembung dengan orang Malaysia. Jadi tidak hairanlah sekiranya pelancong yang paling ramai dating ke China adalah orang Melayu Nusantara sehinggakan membuatkan ramai juga warga tempatan di sini boleh berbicara sedikit–sedikit dalam Bahasa Melayu/Bahasa Indonesia.



Berbalik kepada Tianjin Food Street, kami hanya sekadar bersiar – siar sahaja & tidak membeli apa–apa di situ kerana Maggie Ma tidak galakkan kami berbelanja di situ kerana khuatir kami keliru & tidak tahu membezakan makanan halal & bukan halal kerana di sini ada jual bermacam makanan termasuk makanan eksotik seperti contoh katak, kura–kura & lain–lain lagi. Namun begitu masih terdapat makanan halal di sana tetapi Maggie Ma tidak galakkan membeli, cukup sekadar bersiar–siar sahaja untuk melihat kemeriahan orang yang lalu–lalang di situ.

Tibalah masanya untuk kami semua berangkat ke Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Tianjin–Binhai (TBIA). Setelah tiba kami di sana & bergambar bersama Maggie Ma & pemandu bas persiaran kami, tibalah masa kami mengucapkan “Xie xie he zai jian Zhong Guo! Wo men gai xing ren shi ni men !” yang bermaksud “Terima kasih & selamat tinggal China! Kami gembira bertemu anda!”. Kami pulang ke Malaysia dengan menaiki pesawat Air Asia.

Setelah mengharungi 6 jam perjalanan di ruang udara, kami akhirnya pun sampai ke tanah air. Pesawat penerbangan kami mendarat di Terminal LCCT KLIA, Sepang pada waktu malam. Setelah melalui prosedur pemeriksaan passport, memunggah bagasi & melalui prosedur pemeriksaan keselamatan melalui pengimbas yang terdapat di lapangan terbang di situ, kami mengambil keputusan untuk makan terlebih dahulu akibat keletihan yang amat sangat. Keluarga aku makan di McD. Keluarga–keluarga lain di dalam rombongan kami juga makan di McD. Mungkin rindu sangat hendak pekena McD tetapi tak dapat berbuat demikian di China kerana tidak halal. Kebetulan pula bas yang akan membawa kami pulang dari terminal itu ke Johor Bahru belum lagi tiba. Oleh yang demikian, kami pun makan dahulu sementara hendak menunggu bas.

Setelah selesai kami semua makan, dalam beberapa minit selepas itu, bas kami pun tiba. Kami memunggah segala bag & bagasi kami untuk dimasukkan ke dalam bonet bas. Setelah semua bag/bagasi telah masuk ke dalam bonet bas & kami semua sudah berada di dalam bas, kami pun berangkat menuju ke Johor Bahru. Sementara menunggu tibanya kami ke Johor Bahru, aku & beberapa rakan, ahli keluarga & saudara–mara aku pun mengambil peluang yang ada untuk lena. Selamat Malam! B-).

04/02/2011, Jumaat….. Hari Keenam Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

04/02/2011, Jumaat….. Hari Keenam Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

Hari terakhir kami di Beijing. Diulangi, di BEIJING ya ! Bukan di China kerana petang nanti kami akan berangkat pula ke Tianjin untuk mengunjungi beberapa destinasi yang menarik di sana. Walaupun petang nanti, barulah kami berangkat ke Tianjin tetapi pada pagi itu kami telah siap berkemas bagasi – bagasi kami untuk dimasukkan ke dalam bonet bas persiaran kerana kami akan terus daftar keluar (check–out) dari Hotel Chang Feng & akan menginap di sebuah hotel di sekitaran bandaraya Tianjin pada malam nanti.

Destinasi pertama kami pada hari tersebut ialah Beijing Jade Center. Tempat ini tidak jauh dari kawasan Stadium Sarang Burung & Stadium Water Cube kerana kalian boleh melihat 2 stadium berkenaan dengan jelas dari tempat ini. Semasa kami hendak menuju ke pintu masuk Beijing Jade Center, terdapat seorang penjual layang – layang China menerbangkan layang – layangnya dengan mudah dengan hanya sekadar mencampakkannya ke udara tanpa perlu berlari untuk menerbangkan layang – layang seperti mana dilakukan oleh orang – orang kita di Malaysia. B-) . Seperti mana di beberapa tempat lain yang pernah kami kunjungi, tempat ini juga memberi penerangan ringkas sambil memberi promosi istimewa kepada kami untuk membeli jed yang terdapat di situ. Kami diberi setiap seorang dalam rombongan kami seutas rantai jed secara percuma. Sama ada kami beli atau tidak, setiap seorang akan tetap menerima seutas rantai jed.



Setelah selesai membeli – belah di Beijing Jade Center, kami pun berangkat menuju ke kilang Dellmann, sebuah syarikat alatan dapur yang lebih mengkhusus kepada barang tajam seperti pisau & pengisar. Dalam sesi penerangan ringkas tentang syarikat tersebut, setiap daripada kami dalam rombongan (walaupun tidak membeli) akan mendapat saguhati aka souvenir daripada syarikat tersebut yang merupakan sebilah pisau kecil yang sesuai untuk potong buah kecil seperti kentang, tomato & yang seangkatan dengannya.

Destinasi yang berikutnya adalah Hard Rock Café Beijing. Di sana, kami lebih banyak bergambar daripada membeli – belah kerana t – shirt, seluar & barangan lain yang dijual di sana sangat mahal & tambahan pula duit kami sudah semakin susut akibat terlalu banyak berbelanja. B-P.

Selesai sesi bergambar di Hard Rock Café Beijing, kami pun segera berangkat untuk menuju ke restoran muslim halal yang berikutnya untuk menjamah makan tengahari & kemudiannya menunaikan solat Zohor di Masjid Niujie. Selepas menunaikan solat Zohor di masjid tersebut, kami mengambil peluang yang ada untuk berjalan–jalan di sekitaran Niujie.

Untuk makluman kalian, Niujie merupakan kawasan majoriti Islam terbesar di Beijing. Di sini merupakan kawasan yang paling ramai dihuni oleh orang beretnik Hui. Jadi, jangan merasa hairan atau terkejut sekiranya terdapat daripada mereka ini di Niujie memberi salam kepada anda walaupun mereka tidak berkopiah & berjanggut lebat. Jawablah salam mereka dengan penuh keyakinan & keiklasan kerana mereka juga saudara sesama Islam. B-) .

Kami masuk ke dalam bangunan Niujie Muslim Supermarket yang terletak tidak jauh dari Masjid Niujie. Di sini, terdapat banyak barang yang dijual khas untuk orang muslim di Niujie & makanannya juga halal tanpa was – was. Setelah setengah jam berada di dalam bangunan pasaraya tersebut, aku pun mengambil keputusan untuk keluar dari situ & menuju ke bas persiaran kami. Yang lain belum keluar lagi kerana masih bersiar – siar & membeli makanan & barang yang dijual di pasaraya tersebut.

Sementara menunggu mereka keluar dari bangunan pasaraya tersebut, aku, Maggie Ma & ayah aku bersembang kosong di luar bas persiaran. Setelah sejam bersembang kosong, akhirnya mereka yang masih belum keluar daripada pasaraya tersebut akhirnya keluar & masuk ke dalam bas persiaran. Kami terus berangkat menuju ke Tianjin. Zai Jian (selamat tinggal) Beijing ku tinggalkan & Ni Hao (hello) Tianjin, aku datang! B-).

Seperti biasa perjalanan kami dari bandaraya Beijing ke bandaraya Tianjin mengambil masa 2 jam & dalam tempoh tersebut, aku & beberapa rakan serta saudara – mara aku melihat pemandangan bumi China yang indah ini. Ada beberapa orang dari kami mengambil peluang yang ada untuk melenakan diri. Penat sangat barangkali. B-).

Setibanya kami ke bandaraya Tianjin, suasana sudah bertukar menjadi malam. Kami singgah ke sebuah restoran muslim halal yang terletak di tengah bandaraya Tianjin untuk menjamah makan malam. Di restoran ini, pekerjanya sangat pandai membaca Al – Quran & bukan sahaja pandai, malah boleh menghafal surah yang panjang. Sangat kagum aku melihat pembacaan Al – Quran mereka walaupun mereka berada di sebuah negara komunis. B-).

Selesai makan malam, kami berangkat menuju ke hotel penginapan kami di sekitaran bandaraya Tianjin iaitu Hotel Jin Ma. Dalam perjalanan kami dalam bas menuju ke hotel, pertunjukkan bunga api di ruang angkasa Tianjin juga tidak kurang hebatnya berbanding Beijing. Penuh berwarna – warni & corak paten bunga api di ruang angkasa Tianjin yang dipersembahkan untuk tatapan kami. Seperkara yang aku ingin tambah di sini ialah pihak pemerintah China tidak melarang rakyatnya bermain bunga api & mercun tidak seperti mana yang berlaku di Malaysia. Aku pernah bertanya Maggie Ma beberapa hari yang lepas, apakah tidak ada yang putus jari akibat bermain mercun di sini & beliau menjawab “RAMAI ! setiap tahun, ramai yang putus jari akibat bermain mercun pada sambutan Tahun Baru Cina di China.” Kemudian aku bertanya lagi, apakah pemerintah di sini tidak haramkan mercun? Beliau menyatakan bahawa dahulu pernah ada menteri China yang menyentuh bab ini ( putus jari akibat bermain mercun ) tetapi apabila ditanya oleh pihak wartawan, apakah pihak pemerintah tidak bercadang untuk haramkan mercun ? Menteri itu tersenyum seketika & menjawab “Kalau setiap hari ada sahaja kemalangan di atas jalanraya, adakah kita perlu haramkan kereta, lori & motorsikal ?” itulah jawapan dalam bentuk pertanyaan. B-).

Menurut Maggie Ma lagi, pengharaman yang dibuat oleh pemerintah China terhadap sesuatu material & isunya adalah sekiranya perkara yang diharamkan itu boleh mendatangkan kemudaratan serta huru – hara terhadap kepentingan negara & dasar pemerintahan mereka seperti contoh Facebook & Google yang digunakan oleh segelintir aktivis demokrasi untuk meyebarkan ideologi mereka. Walaupun mereka ini hanyalah segelintir minoriti tetapi pemerintah China tidak berkompromi dalam isu ini bagi mencegah daripada situasi menjadi huru – hara & tidak terkawal.

Setibanya kami di hotel, kami daftar masuk untuk sehari semalam sahaja kerana esok kami akan berangkat pulang ke Malaysia. Selesai mendapat kunci bilik, kami masuk ke bilik masing – masing & bersiap untuk melenakan diri. Wan an! (selamat malam!). B-).

03/02/2011, Khamis….. Hari Kelima Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

03/02/2011, Khamis….. Hari Kelima Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

Hari kelima di Beijing. Kami dimaklumkan oleh Maggie Ma yang pada destinasi pertama, kami akan di bawa melawat Stadium Sarang Burung & Stadium Water Cube. Stadium ini sangat unik tetapi menarik kerana reka bentuknya yang melambangkan identiti budaya negara China itu sendiri. Mungkin selepas ini, kalau Malaysia hendak menjadi tuan rumah sukan bertaraf antarabangsa, kerajaan Malaysia perlu bina stadium rupa tengkolok atau rupa songkok agaknya, B-). Kami tidak berpeluang untuk masuk ke dalam stadium tersebut kerana tiada acara yang sedang berlangsung di situ pada ketika itu. Di luar stadium, terdapat saketul batu jed yang besar diletakkan untuk menghiasi lanskap luar kawasan stadium. Dari sini, kami dapat melihat bangunan IBM China yang agak unik bangunannya. B-).

Oleh kerana pada ketika itu adalah musim dingin, maka air sungai turut menjadi beku termasuk air sungai di luar stadium. Kami mengambil kesempatan yang ada untuk bergambar di atas permukaan sungai yang terlah beku. Namun begitu, Maggie Ma melarang kami untuk pergi di tengah – tengah sungai yang telah beku kerana khuatir ais itu akan pecah lalu kami jatuh ke dalam sungai memandangkan kami berada di penghujung musim dingin.



Destinasi yang berikutnya, kami dibawa ke Chinese Herbal Center untuk sesi urut kaki percuma (I LIKE ! B-D). Di sini selain menerima urutan kaki percuma, kami juga menerima promosi istimewa produk – produk herba yang baik untuk kesihatan > percuma ada makna ! B-) .

Selesai menerima urutan kaki percuma & membeli beberapa produk herba kesihatan, kami berangkat menuju ke restoran muslim halal untuk makan tengahari & kemudiannya menuju ke masjid untuk solat Zohor. Untuk masjid kali ini, aku tidak dapat sebutkan nama masjid tersebut sebab aku lupa nama masjid tersebut (Biar lupa nama masjid, jangan lupa hendak solat. B-P).

Selesai menunaikan solat Zohor, kami meneruskan lagi perjalanan kami ke Summer Palace. Summer Palace merupakan tempat istirehat maharaja China zaman dinasti Qing semasa musim panas. Tempat ini dikelilingi oleh tasik yang luas, sesuai untuk mengayuh sampan bersama pasangan kekasih, cewah ! B-P.

Oleh kerana air di tasik telah beku, tiada sampan di atas tasik tetapi ada orang sahaja. Walaupun terdapat papan tanda melarang orang ramai berjalan atau berdiri di atas tasik yang beku di dalam Bahasa Mandarin & Bahasa inggeris tetapi tetap ramai yang berdiri dan berjalan atas tasik tersebut termasuk kami.

Seperti biasa, Maggie Ma melarang kami berada jauh dari daratan kerana khuatir akan keselamatan kami. Pada mulanya, Maggie Ma melarang sama sekali untuk kami berada di atas tasik yang beku memandangkan sudah banyak kes orang jatuh ke dalam tasik tersebut walaupun sudah diberikan amaran tetapi setelah dipujuk & dirayu beberapa kali, barulah Maggie Ma mengizinkan kami dengan syarat tidak jauh dari daratan & tidak melompat – lompat di atas tasik yang beku itu kerana sekarang adalah penghujung musim dingin & ais tersebut sedang mengalami proses pencairan.

Menurut Maggie Ma, pihak pemerintah meletakkan papan tanda itu untuk keselamatan orang ramai tetapi sekiranya ada yang berdegil dan akhirnya terjatuh ke dalam tasik akibat ais yang pecah, Maggie Ma berkata pihak pemerintah tidak akan bertanggungjawab kerana amaran telah diberikan. Dalam erti kata lain, bahasa kasarnya ialah “Aku sudah maklumkan engkau tetapi engkau degil juga. Lepas ini, kalau berlaku apa – apa, sendiri mahu ingat ! Jangan cari atau salahkan aku !” < Itulah bahasa kasarnya. B-) . Namun begitu, kami bersyukur kerana tiada apa yang berlaku sepanjang kami berjalan & berdiri di atas tasik yang beku itu.

Selesai kami berjalan – jalan di sekitaran Summer Palace, kami berangkat menuju ke Beijing Dr Tea House untuk menikmati sambil membeli teh hijau China. Di sini, kami diberikan sampel minuman percuma teh hijau China. Rasanya tawar & seikit payau tetapi ibarat kata Hamid Gurkha “kalau tak tawar & payau, bukan teh hijau namanya”, hahaha….. X-D.

Selesai meminum & membeli teh hijau China, kami pun berangkat menuju ke destinasi makam malam yang berikutnya & kemudian berangkat pulang ke hotel. Setibanya kami di hotel, kami sambung semula bermain bunga api sambil melihat pertunjukan bunga api di ruang angkasa hotel dari perkarangan hotel tempat kami menginap. Setelah puas bermain bunga api dan melihat pertunjukan bunga api di ruang angkasa Beijing dari perkarangan hotel, kami pun masuk ke bilik masing–masing untuk bersiap melenakan diri. Wan an! (Selamat malam!). B-).

02/02/ 2011, Rabu….. Hari Keempat Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

02/02/ 2011, Rabu….. Hari Keempat Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

Hari keempat di Beijing. Destinasi pertama kami untuk hari keempat adalah Yashow Clothing Market. Dalam perjalanan dari hotel ke sana, kami dapati banyak kedai – kedai di sekitaran ibu kota Beijing tutup. Ini adalah kerana ramai orang telah pulang ke kampung halaman masing – masing. Sepertimana Kuala Lumpur, kebanyakkan warga yang mendiami Beijing bukanlah anak jati Beijing tetapi adalah perantau dari seluruh pelosok China mencari rezeki di sini. Hari ini adalah hari pertama sambutan Tahun Baru Cina di seluruh pelosok dunia.

Kami tiba jua akhirnya ke sana. Yashow Clothing Market adalah sebuah pusat membeli – belah yang lebih menumpukan kepada industri tekstil. Kalau di Malaysia, tempat seperti ini ibarat Jakel, B-). Di sini, anda jangan terkejut kalau terdapat kedai yang menulis nama kedai mereka di dalam Bahasa Melayu seperti “Kedai Cadar/Langsir” malah pekerjanya juga boleh berbahasa Melayu dengan fasih (terasa seperti masih berada di Malaysia).



Bangunan Yashow Clothing Market mengandungi 4 tingkat yang mana 2 tingkat bawah adalah pakaian dan 2 tingkat atas adalah tempat gajet/barang elektronik. Di sini, semua barang adalah tiruan (jenama pakaian/gajet/barang elektronik) tetapi murah. Yashow Clothing Market terletak di Sanlitun Bar Street, Daerah Chaoyang, Beijing. Bagi golongan hawa yang suka membeli beg–beg berjenama tetapi yang murah aka tiruan, di sini ada bermacam–macam jenama seperi Prada, Gucci, Calvin Klein & bermacam lagi. Bagi peminat gajet, di sini kalian boleh dapatkan “iPhone”, “Blackberry”, “iPad” dan bermacam lagi gajet tiruan. Walaupun tidak sebagus yang asli tetapi murah. Sekiranya kalian hendak membeli gajet yang tiruan & murah tetapi yang terbaik, aku sarankan kalian dapatkan iPad kerana kebanyakkan iPad tiruan di sini mempunyai sistem operasi (OS) Android. Boleh tahan juga barang tiruan di sini kan? B-).



Selesai membeli–belah di Yashow Clothing Market berjam – jam lamanya (Duit sudah semakin susut, hahaha…. X-D), Kami merehatkan dompet kami seketika untuk makan tengahari di restoran muslim halal dan kemudian mengerjakan solat Zohor di Masjid Nan Dou Ya.

Sesudah itu, kami meneruskan lagi perjalanan kami ke destinasi membeli–belah yang berikutnya. Kami menuju ke Silk Street Pearl Market. Tidak seperti Yashow Clothing Market, di sini kompleks membeli–belahnya lebih menumpukan kepada penjualan gajet–gajet / barang elektronik yang digilai oleh golongan muda (seperti aku, hahaha… X-D). Walaupun kebanyakkan gajet/barang elektronik di sini adalah tiruan tetapi terdapat juga gajet/barang elektronik asli yang dijual sedikit murah berbanding di Malaysia. Ada iPhone, Blackberry, iPad, PSP dan bermacam lagi. Terdapat juga permainan–permainan yang dijual di sini seperti helikopter kawalan jauh, anak patung Barbie, Hot Wheel dan bermacam lagi. Terdapat juga seksyen kebudayaan untuk kompleks membeli – belah ini seperti kaligrafi Cina, ‘topi Wong Fei Hung’, topeng Opera China dan bermacam–macam lagi. Setelah aku keluar dari kompleks membeli belah tersebut, aku mula terfikir “Kenapa kompleks membeli – belah ini diberi nama Silk Street Pearl Market? Kenapa ya? Jauh benar namanya dengan apa yang dijual di dalamnya.” B-).

Selesai membeli belah berjam–jam lamanya, tibalah masa untuk makan malam di restoran muslim halal & kemudiannya pulang ke hotel. Setibanya kami di hotel, ramai antara kami mengambil kesempatan yang ada untuk berjalan–jalan di sekitaran kawasan tersebbut tidak jauh dari hotel untuk melihat pemandangan malam di Beijing sambil melihat bunga api di ruang angkasa Beijing. Setelah sejam berjalan kaki, kami pulang semula ke hotel dan ada antara kami bermain bunga api di luar kawasan hotel bagi turut memeriahkan sambutan Tahun Baru Cina di bumi China.

Selesai bermain bunga api, kami pun masuk ke bilik masing – masing untuk bersiap melenakan diri. Wan An! (Selamat Malam!).

01/02/2011, Selasa….. Hari Ketiga Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

01/02/2011, Selasa….. Hari Ketiga Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

Hari ketiga di Beijing. Destinasi pertama kami untuk hari ketiga adalah Beijing Crystal Shop. Di sini segala barangan yang dijual adalah berasaskan barang – barang Kristal seperti cermin mata, cincin & bermacam lagi. Selesai membeli-belah di Beijing Crystal Shop, kami meneruskan perjalanan kami ke Tembok Besar China. Semasa dalam perjalanan kami dalam bas menuju Tembok Besar China, Maggia Ma memberi sedikit penerangan ringkas tentang sejarah Tembok Besar China. Maggie Ma juga turut menyatakan bahawa Mao Zedong pernah berkata “Anda bukan pahlawan sekiranya tidak menjejakkan kaki ke Tembok Besar China !” membuatkan aku terfikir, apalah yang istimewanya Tembok Besar China tersebut.

Setibanya kami ke Tembok Besar China, semua orang kelihatan teruja. Mungkin kerana semua dari mereka ini mahu mendapat gelaran “Pahlawan !”. Cuaca di sini bertambah dingin berbanding di pusat bandaraya Beijing. Mungkin kerana Tembok Besar China ini terletak di kawasan pergunungan yang membuatkan kawasan ini lebih sejuk berbanding kawasan urbanisasi Beijing. Aku bertanyakan kepada Maggie Ma, apakah aku boleh membawa banting untuk sesi bergambar memandangkan aku meihat sekitaran kasan tersebut tiada tentera mahupun polis yang membuat rondaan di situ & akhirnya Maggie Ma mempertimbangkan untuk mengizinkan aku membawa banting tersebut.



Sebelum kami mula mendaki Tembok Besar China tersebut, kami bergambar terlebih dahulu. Banting rombongan kami dibentangkan dan latar belakang kami iaitu Tembok Besar China menjadi daya penarik gambar kami nanti. Selesai sesi bergambar, kami terus mendaki beberapa kilometer Tembor Besar China tersebut. Waktu itu barulah aku faham kenapa Mao Zedong berkata “Anda bukan pahlawan sekiranya tidak menjejakkan kaki ke Tembok Besar China” kerana kecerunan tangganya yang curam dan pembinaannya tidak mengikut piawaian spefikiasi kejuruteraan yang sewajarnya kerana anak tangganya tidak rata, ketinggian setiap anak tangga tidak sekata & landai menjadikan pendakian kami benar–benar mencabar kerana sedikit kesilapan boleh menyebabkan tergelincir dan jatuh bergolek–golek. B-).

Setelah puas mendaki setinggi yang boleh, kami turun semula untuk menuju ke bas persiaran kami. Walaupun pendakian kami sangat mencabar tetapi kami seronok & tambahan pula kami kini sudah bergelar “Pahlawan !” mengikut piawaian rakyat China, B-). Kalaulah setiap pengunjung yang melawat Tembok Besar China itu dikurniakan sijil ‘Pahlawan !’ apabila menjejakkan kaki mereka di Tembok Besar China, sudah pasti aku akan bingkaikan sijil tersebut dan gantungkannya di ruang tamu rumah keluarga aku, hahaha….. X-D.

Setelah semuanya berada di dalam bas persiaran, kami pun mula bergerak menuju restoran muslim halal untuk makan tengahari (penat WOOO ! mendaki tembok besar ini. Nampak macam senang, cubalah rasai sendiri pendakian Tembok Besar China, barulah kalian ‘feel’ cabaran & keseronokan mendaki tembok besar tersebut.). Sepanjang perjalanan kami dalam bas menuju restoran muslim halal yang berikutnya, Maggie Ma menyatakan restoran muslim halal ini adalah restoran muslim halal terkenal di Beijing kerana keenakkan hidangannya. Apa yang menarik lagi, restoran ini terletak di tingkat atas Pusat Tembikar Beijing. Di sini, anda boleh melihat senireka corak tembikar–tembikar China yang cantik–cantik belaka.

Setibanya kami ke destinasi yang berikutnya untuk menjamah makan tengahari, kami mengambil kesempatan yang ada untuk melihat sendiri kecantikan tembikar – tembikar China yang indah. Namun begitu kami tidak membelinya kerana harganya sangat mahal & jangan terkejut kalau anda terjumpa beberapa tembikar China dengan tanda harga beratus ribu Yuan (kalau tukar ke Ringgit Malaysia pun masih beratus ribu Ringgit.). B-). Di sini, kalian tidak perlu membuang masa untuk tawar–menawar kerana tembikar–tembikar di sini sememangnya dijual untuk golongan elit yang kaya–raya. Kalau kalian cuba juga untuk tawar – menawar, janganlah merasa sakit hati sekiranya tidak dilayan & tidak diendahkan. Di sini, kalian tidak perlu khuatir untuk jalan seorang diri kerana tiada jurujual yang akan kepung & paksa kalian untuk membeli tembikar mereka, Cuma perlu berhati – hati apabila berjalan berdekatan tembikar atau sedang memegang tembikar kerana sekiranya tembikar mereka jatuh atau pecah atas sebab kecuaian kalian, mereka akan paksa kalian dengan apa cara sekali pun untuk membayar ganti rugi.

Kami menuju ke restoran yang terletak di tingkat atas pusat tembikar ini untuk menjamah makan tengahari. Sesudah itu, kami menunaikan solat Zohor. Apa yang bagusnya restoran muslim halal ini adalah terdapat ruang surau disediakan bersebelahan restoran tersebut. Oleh yang demikian, selepas makan tengahari, kalian boleh terus mengambil wudhuk & menunaikan solat.

Selesai makan tengahari & menunaikan solat Zohor, destinasi kami yang berikutnya adalah ke Rose Valley Snow World untuk bermain ski. Setibanya rombongan kami ke sana, aku hanya duduk di dalam bas untuk tidur. Aku malas hendak berski–ski ini (Eleh, cakaplah sahajalah yang kau tak pandai main ski ini, wahai Encik Faizi, B-P).

Setelah puas mereka berski berjam – jam lamanya, kami pun segera berangkat untuk menuju ke destinasi membeli–belah yang berikutnya iaitu Beijing Burning Cream Center. Kami diberi penerangan ringkas & demonstrasi terlebih dahulu sebelum mula membeli–belah.

Destinasi berikutnya, kami berangkat menuju ke restoran muslim halal berikutnya untuk menjamah makan malam. Selesai makan malam, maka berakhirlah perjalanan kami untuk hari ketiga. Kami berangkat pulang ke hotel & bersiap untuk melenakan diri. Wan an! (Selamat malam!). B-).

31/01/2011, Isnin….. Hari Kedua Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

31/01/2011, Isnin….. Hari Kedua Beijing–Tianjin Tours.

Pukul 7.00 pagi, aku sudah bersiap untuk turun ke lobi dan menjamah sarapan. Sarapan yang disediakan di restoran hotel tersebut adalah halal dan tanpa was – was. Ada seperkara yang aku hendak maklumkan kepada kalian semua, apabila kalian mengunjungi bumi China, bawalah kamus Bahasa Inggeris – Mandarin (yang mempunyai tulisan rumi). Ini adalah kerana ramai rakyat China dalam jangkaan lebih 80% tidak fasih langsung berbahasa Inggeris & tidak semuanya boleh berbahasa Melayu/Indonesia (B-P). Jika kalian tidak membawa kamus, maka akan terjadilah situasi seperti ayam dan itik berbicara, B-) .

Aku perhatikan kakitangan hotel tidak fasih berbicara Bahasa Inggeris, Bahasa Melayu mahupun Bahasa Indonesia. Hendak harapkan Maggie Ma, beliau bukan ada setiap masa di sisi kami ketika berada di hotel. Maka terjadilah situasi mereka dan ada antara kami menggunakan isyarat tangan yang kadang – kadang aku terasa nak gelak. Macam–macam gaya ada. Nasib baik tiada gaya cucuk bintang (X-D). Aku sedikit beruntung kerana boleh berkomunikasi sedikit–sedikit dalam Bahasa Mandarin. Alangkah bagusnya kalau arwah atuk Mansor aku masih hidup dan beliau juga ikut serta rombongan ini, senang untuk jadi penterjemah sebab atuk Mansor aku adalah seorang Cina Muslim dan fasih berbahasa Mandarin. B-).



Walaupun masakan di restoran hotel tersebut adalah halal dan tanpa was–was tetapi jenis makanan yang dihidangkan tidak sama seperti mana kebanyakkan hotel di Malaysia. Tiada roti bakar dan mentega. Tiada jus oren, tiada omelet dan tiada apa jenis hidangan yang kalian biasa nampak di kebanyakkan hotel yang ada di Malaysia. Yang ada adalah jenis–jenis hidangan tradisional China yang halal seperti kway teow goring, dim sum, nasi goring ala China dan , lain–lain jenis masakan tradisonal China yang halal. Aku membayangkan kalaulah ketika itu ada roti bakar sapu mentega disertakan dengan jus oren untuk dijamah dengan cuaca dingin, PERGHHHH, terangkat WOOO !!! B-) . Tapi aku makanlah apa yang ada, janji halal dan kenyang. B-) . Walaupun sudu & garfu disediakan tetapi aku makan juga pakai chopstick sebab nak ada ‘feel’ berada di bumi China, B-P (Ceh, padahal di Malaysia pun aku kadang–kadang makan pakai chopstick ketika makan mee di restoran halal milik orang Melayu Islam tertentu, B-D).

Setelah selesai menjamah sarapan, kami pun keluar dari bangunan hotel untuk menuju masuk ke dalam bas persiaran kami yang telah berada di perkarangan luar bangunan hotel tersebut sejak 7.30 pagi lagi. Sebelum kami masuk ke dalam bas, kami bergambar dengan kolam yang telah beku di luar bangunan hotel tersebut. Ada antara kami hampir terjatuh kerana tergelincir termasuklah aku. Yang hampir terjatuh akibat tergelincir adalah mereka – mereka yang awal sekali menangkap gambar kerana tidak tahu bahawa ais tersebut licin. Untunglah yang menangkap gambar kemudian sebab sudah ‘alert!’. B-).

Apabila semuanya sudah ada di dalam bas, kami pun mula bergerak. Destinasi pertama kami pada hari tersebut ialah Dataran Tian An Men, sebuah dataran terbesar di dunia (berbelas kali ganda saiznya berbanding Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur). Seperti biasa, sepanjang perjalanan kami untuk sampai ke sesuatu destinasi di negara China itu, kami menikmati pemandangan ibu kota Beijing yang pesat membangun. Tidak keterlaluan untuk aku katakan bahawa pembangunan infratruktur secara keseluruhannya, Kuala Lumpur sudah kalah dengan Beijing. Tinggal lagi, Kuala Lumpur hanya menang dengan Beijing dari segi pembangunan infrastruktur hanyalah sekadar Bangunan Berkembar Petronas (KLCC), Menara Kuala Lumpur (Menara KL) dan Berjaya Times Square, itu sahaja yang Kuala Lumpur berjaya atasi Beijing dari segi pembangunan infrasturktur. Jalan – jalan utama di sekitaran ibu kota Beijing juga bersih dan tiada kesan seperti ‘jalan tampal’ setaraf dengan negara maju. Melihat keadaan Beijing pada ketika itu, aku mulakan merasakan yang aku bukan berada di sebuah negara yang mengamalkan sistem pemerintahan komunism yang sedang membangun tetapi terasa seperti berada di sebuah negara demokrasi yang maju.

Sepanjang perjalanan menuju ke Dataran Tian An Men dari Hotel Chang Feng, aku perhatikan banyak syarikat – syarikat kewangan, perbankan & petroleum didominasi oleh syarikat milik pemerintah dan boleh dikatakan hampir tiada satu pun syarikat kewangan, perbankan & petroleum yang datangnya dari negara asing. Tidak seperti Malaysia, selain kita ada Petronas, CIMB, & Maybank, Malaysia juga ada Shell, Esso, HSBC, Al – Rajhi Bank dan lain – lain. Di China hanya ada Sinopec (syarikat Petroleum milik pemerintah China), Shenzen Bank, Bank of Beijing, Agriculture Bank of Beijing, Architectural Bank of China dan lain – lain syarikat kewangan, perbankan & petroleum domestik yang lain. Mungkin inilah antara sebabnya kenapa ekonomi China boleh maju begitu drastik sekali kerana bidang – bidang yang kritikal dikuasi sepenuhnya oleh pemerintah tanpa ada persaingan dari firma asing.

Setibanya kami ke Dataran Tian An Men, semua turun dari bas dan aku membawa banting yang tertera “Rombongan Ke Beijing, China” tetapi Maggie Ma melarang aku membawa banting tersebut kerana terdapat kawalan keselamatan & rondaan oleh tentera China di Dataran Tian An Men & Kota Larangan, Aku tidak bertanya kenapa dan apa kaitan banting dengan tentera di Dataran Tian An Men & Kota Larangan kerana aku sudah sedia maklum menerusi pencarian maklumat tentang China di Google dan salah satu sebab kenapa banting aka banner tidak boleh dibawa ke Dataran Tian An Men adalah disebabkan peristiwa Tian An Men 1989. Apa yang berlaku di Dataran Tian An Men pada tahun 1989? Aku rasa adalah lebih baik sekiranya kalian sendiri bertanya kepada pakcik Google. Pakcik Google tahu segalanya tentang apa yang berlaku di Dataran Tian An Men pada tahun 1989. Oleh sebab itulah pakcik Google tidak dibenarkan menjejakkan kaki ke bumi China termasuklah pakcik Facebook. Aku malas nak bercerita lebih lanjut tentang peristiwa Tian An Men 1989 di blog ini atau di mana jua medium online, penyiaran & percetakan sebab khuatir lain kali aku tidak dapat menjejakkan lagi ke bumi China walaupun aku BERSIH ! B-) .

Berbalik kepada tibanya kami ke Dataran Tian An Men, kami serombongan menuju ke Dataran Tian An Men. Seperkara lagi yang ingin aku maklumkan kepada kalian semua, apabila berjalan di luar di negara China, jangan jalan berseorangan / berasingan / berpecah kerana faktor keselematan. Seeloknya jalan biarlah berkumpulan atau sekurang – kurangnya berduan kerana bukan sahaja atas faktor keselamatan tetapi juga agar tidak ‘dikepung’ oleh beberapa penjual jalanan yang seperti memaksa kita membeli barang yang mereka jual seperti contoh topi musim dingin, replika stadium sarang burung dan bermacam lagi. Sebaik sahaja kami turun dari bas, ada sahaja penjual jalanan yang memujuk kami untuk membeli barang. Sekiranya kalian tidak mahu membeli dan telah memberi isyarat tangan ‘tidak’ dan berkata ‘NO!’ & ‘DON’T WANT!’, cadangan aku katakan kepada mereka dalam bahasa Mandarin yang berbunyi seperti ini “Dui bu qi, wo shuo bu yao ! Zhen bu yao !” yang bermaksud “Minta maaf, saya cakap tidak mahu ! Sangat tidak mahu !” dan kalau tidak berkesan juga, katakan kepada mereka “Hao lah ! Wo mei qian. Zhen dui bu qi, xie xie ni !” yang bermaksud “Baiklah, saya tiada duit. Saya minta maaf sangat – sangat. Terima kasih !” dan kalau itu masih tiada berkesan juga, teruskan berjalan seperti biasa dan tidak perlu endahkan penjual jalanan tersebut. Harus diingat, jangan berkasar dengan mereka walaupun anda merasa rimas diekori mereka dan jangan meninggikan suara sebaliknya buat tidak tahu sahaja. B-) .

Semasa kami berjalan kaki menuju ke Dataran Tian An Men, aku dapati ramai tentera melakukaan rondaan dengan uniform musim dingin khas untuk pasukan tentera mereka. Begitu juga dengan pasukan polis yang turut memakai uniform musim dingin. Setibanya kami di Dataran Tian An Men, kami mengambil peluang untuk menangkap gambar pemandangan Dataran Tian An Men & bergambar bersama – sama di dataran tersebut. Kalaulah Dataran Merdeka Kuala Lumpur, Dataran Bandaraya Johor Bahru & Dataran Penggaram Batu Pahat sebesar Dataran Tian An Men, bolehlah anjurkan Jom Heboh, Konsert Double Trouble dan lain – lain acara yang ‘GRAND!’ di dataran – dataran tersebut. B-) .

Selepas sesi bergambar, kami meneruskan lagi perjalanan kami menuju ke Kota Larangan. Oleh kerana jalanraya agak sibuk, kami dibawa oleh Maggie Ma melalui terowong bawah tanah untuk menuju ke Kota Larangan tanpa perlu menyeberangi jalanraya yang sibuk. Setibanya kami di Kota Larangan, aku ternampak gambar Mao Zedong digantung di tengah – tengah pintu masuk utama Kota Larangan. Kami meneruskan perjalanan untuk masuk ke Kota Larangan. Kota Larangan dahulunya merupakan istana Maharaja sehinggalah era empayar dinasti Qing runtuh, politik China telah memasuki era baru apabila sistem empayar diganti dengan sistem republik komunism. Setelah berakhirnya pemerintahan monarki di negara itu, Kota Larangan tersebut dibuka kepada orang awam untuk dikunjungi sebagai destinasi pelancongan. Besar juga Kota Larangan ini kerana terasa seperti sudah sejam kami mengelilingi Kota Larangan ini. Walaupun Kota Larangan ini sangat besar, pemandangan tempatnya masih lagi cantik & indah. Sewaktu kami masuk ke Kota Larangan, terdapat tentera sedang melakukan acara kawad kaki. Aku hanya sekadar memerhatikan formasi kawad kaki yang dilakukan oleh anggota tentera China di Kota Larangan tersebut.

Setelah selesai bersiar – siar di sekitaran Kota Larangan, kami pun segera beredar menuju ke bas persiaran kami untuk menjamah makan tengahari di sebuah restoran muslim halal. Setibanya kami di restoran tersebut 2 – 3 orang peniaga yang kelihatan beretnik Xinjiang / Barat Laut China menjual snek tradisional mereka sambil melaungkan “Rasa, rasa ! Halal, halal !” di luar restoran tersebut. Emak aku beli snek tersebut dan masuk ke dalan restoran untuk menjamah makan tengahari. Selesai makan tengahari, kami pun keluar menuju kea rah bas. Terdapat seorang makcik warga tempatan ini menjual cadar meja yang kelihatannya tenunan dari barat laut China sebab macam pernah tengok corak demikian di ‘Google’. Selesai mereka membeli cadar tersebut, mereka semua masuk ke dalam bas & setelah ada semuanya, barulah kami berangkat menuju ke Masjid Ma Dian untuk solat Zohor.

Seperkara yang menarik apabila menunaikan solat di masjid – masjid yang terdapat di bumi China dalam suasana cuaca dingin, tempat wudhuk air panas disediakan akan tetapi airnya sangat panas. Oleh yang demikian untuk suamkan air tersebut, kami mengambil botol air mineral yang kosong dan kami isi setengah air paip sejuk dan setengah air paip panas, lalu kami tutup botol dengan penutup botol lalu kami goncangkan dan kami gunakan air tersebut sebagai air wudhuk. Setelah selesai mengambil wudhuk, Kami masuk ke dalam masjid untuk menunaikan solat. Di Malaysia, apabila orang Melayu Islam & orang Cina Islam melakukan solat berjemaah bersama – sama, yang akan menjadi imam kebiasaanya ialah orang Melayu Islam tetapi di sini adalah sebaliknya. B-) .

Setelah selesai menunaikan solat Zohor, kami pun beredar meninggalkan masjid untuk menuju masuk ke dalam bas persiaran yang menunggu kami di luar masjid. Semasa hendak meninggalkan masjid tersebut, aku telah memberi sedekah kepada salah seorang AJK masjid tersebut menggunakan matawang Renminbi Yuan China & Ringgit Malaysia. Kenapa aku memberi sedekah menggunakan 2 matawang & bukannya satu matawang sahaja? Ini jawapannya > Di China, pemerintah mereka telah menambatkan matawang Renminbi Yuan China hanya kepada Dollar Amerika Syarikat sahaja. Oleh itu sekiranya aku hanya memberi sedekah menggunakan matawang Ringgit Malaysia sahaja, ini akan menyulitkan mereka untuk membuat pertukaran matawang di negara mereka dan sekali gus berkemungkinan boleh mengurangkan pahala sedekah aku kerana telah menyulitkan mereka. Sebab itu aku memberi sedekah menggunakan 2 matawang yang mana sedekah yang menggunakan matawang Renminbi Yuan China boleh mereka belanjakan & sedekah yang menggunakan matawang Ringgit Malaysia pula mereka boleh abadikan sebagai tanda kenang – kenangan bagi mengeratkan siratulrahim umat Islam tanpa mengira latar belakang negara, bangsa, budaya & individu itu sendiri di seluruh pelusuk dunia. B-) . Menurut Maggie Ma, majoriti masyarakat Islam di China adalah beretnik Hui walaupun majoriti warga China adalah beretnik Han. Etnik Hui ramai didapati di wilayah – wilayah barat daya China seperti Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu & Ningxia.



Destinasi yang berikutnya setelah selesai menunaikan solat Zohor di Masjid Ma Dian ialah menuju ke Famous Silk Centre untuk tujuan membeli – belah sutera China. Sebelum aktiviti membeli sutera China dimulakan, kami diberi penerangan ringkas terlebih dahulu tentang bagaimana proses pembikinan sutera China dilaksanakan dalam Bahasa Inggeris.Semasa aku berjalan–jalan di dalam bangunan Famous Silk Centre, aku terserempak dengan gambar mantan Perdana Menteri Malaysia keempat, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad bersalaman dengan mantan Presiden Republik Rakyat China, Jiang Zemin yang digantung pada dinding bangunan tersebut. Sesudah penerangan ringkas diberikan, barulah aktiviti membeli sutera China dimulakan oleh golongan – golongan hawa. Setelah puas memborong sutera China semampu yang boleh, tibalah masanya kami ke destinasi berikutnya.

Kemanakah destinasi kita yang berikutnya? Kita ke Fresh Water Pearl Center. Masih lagi dengan aktiviti membeli–belah tetapi kali ini aktiviti membeli mutiara. Sama seperti Famous Silk Centre, sebelum aktiviti membeli–belah bermula, penerangan ringkas mengenai mutiara China diberikan terlebih dahulu sebagai pembuka mukadimah dan diselitkan juga ‘ayat–ayat marketing’ untuk mencairkan golongan hawa membeli –belah di situ. B-).

Selesai membeli–belah di Fresh Water Pearl Center, aktiviti membeli–belah diteruskan lagi tetapi kali ini kami dibawa ke Sunny Gold Street Market. Di sana tiada penerangan ringkas seperti mana 2 destinasi membeli–belah sebentar tadi, B-). Di sini terdapat pakaian, baju, seluar, kasut, permainan, gajet dan lain–lain tetapi secara keseluruhannya, pakaian, baju, seluar & kasutlah yang paling banyak dijual di sini.

Kalian tentu pernah mendengar rakan – rakan atau ahli keluarga kalian yang baru pulang dari China mengatakan barang – barang di China murah. Ya, barang – barang di China memang murah tetapi perlu diingatkan di sini, kalian perlu tawar – menawar dan membuat ‘survey’ terlebih dahulu sebelum membuat keputusan untuk membeli. Ini adalah kerana mereka di sana tahu kalian adalah pelancong & sebaik sahaja kalian menjejakkan kaki ke kedai mereka, harga barang terus dinaikkan bagi mengaut keuntungan yang berkali ganda. Ini yang berlaku kepada rombongan kami & bahkan juga aku percaya kepada pelancong lain. Sebaik sahaja aku masuk ke dalam bangunan Sunny Gold Street Market itu, aku dapati harganya sedikit mahal walaupun kami telah tukarkan nilai Renminbi Yuan China kepada Ringgit Malaysia untuk membuat perbandingan. Bertambah parah apabila tiada tanda harga diletakkan di kedai mereka yang membolehkan peniaga – peniaga di sini meletakkan harga ikut sedap mulut mereka sahaja. B-) .

Untuk lawan tawar – menawar, kalian perlu mematikan perasaan untuk seketika kerana mereka seboleh – bolehnya mahu menjual mahal kepada anda dengan bermacam cara psikologi yang digunakan seperti “ You crazy arrr ? Can’t not with this price lah. I’m death you know !”. Hebat betul lakonan mereka. B-) . Adakalanya apabila kami sudah hampir hendak membayar, tiba – tiba tidak jadi membeli & keluar dari situ, bersedialah dengan kata – kata makian daripada peniaga dalam Bahasa Mandarin seperti “Bendan!” yang bermaksud Bodoh, “Shang Qing Ping !” bermaksud Gila & bermacam – macam lagi kata makian. B-). Nasihat aku, kalau kalian tiada niat untuk membeli – belah, seeloknya jangan buat begitu kerana ini akan menyakitkan hati mereka walaupun kalian mempunyai hak untuk tidak membeli setelah hampir hendak membayar tetapi tidak jadi membeli akhirnya.

Terdapat beberapa peniaga yang tidak fasih berkomunikasi dalam Bahasa Inggeris, Bahasa Melayu mahupun Bahasa Indonesia. Bagi pelancong yang boleh berkomunikasi dalam Bahasa Mandarin walaupun sedikit, mungkin tidak menghadapi masalah untuk berbicara dengan peniaga tetapi bagi mereka yang tidak tahu berkomunikasi dalam Bahasa Mandarin, isyarat tangan & kalkulator sahajalah cara yang ada untuk berkomunikasi.

Seperkara lagi apabila kalian hendak membeli – belah di bumi China, pastikan kalian tidak keseorangan kerana dikhuatiri kalian akan dikepung oleh peniaga – peniaga yang kelihatan memujuk kalian secara paksa untuk membeli barang di kedai mereka. Pastikan kalian sekurang – kurangnya berdua dengan rakan atau ahli keluarga kalian.

Kalian mempunyai hak untuk tawar–menawar di bumi China kerana kebanyakkan barang – barang yang dijual adalah tiruan daripada pakaian hinggalah kepada barang – barang elektronik (Bahkan iPhone, iPad & Blackberry sekali pun tiruan). B-). Melihat pelancong bertekak & bergaduh tawar menawar dengan peniaga adalah perkara biasa di China. Ia bukan sahaja terhad kepada pelancong Malaysia tetapi pelancong Eropah juga sama. B-) .

Setelah sejam berada di dalam bangunan Sunny Gold Street Market, aku pun mengambil keputusan untuk berehat di luar bangunan tersebut. Masih ramai antara kami berada di dalam bangunan Sunny Gold Street Market untuk membeli–belah. Walaupun Beijing semakin maju ke hadapan tetapi bilangan pengemis juga bertambah. Ada beberapa pengemis datang ke arah aku untuk meminta sedekah & aku pun berikan beberapa Yuan kepada mereka tanpa banyak bicara. Aku merasa hairan kenapa Beijing yang lebih maju daripada Kuala Lumpur mempunyai peminta sedekah yang agak ramai. Maggie Ma menjelaskan bahawa bukan Beijing sahaja yang maju tetapi kota–kota metropolis utama China yang lain juga turut maju. Menurutnya lagi, walaupun dari semasa ke semasa China bertambah maju dengan berdiri banyak bangunan–bangunan tinggi & moden tetapi hakikatnya bilangan golongan miskin semakin bertambah. Ini adalah kerana di China, tiada golongan kelas pertengahan. Yang ada hanya golongan kaya & golongan miskin sahaja tidak seperti di Malaysia yang mempunyai golongan kelas pertengahan iaitu tidak miskin tetapi juga tidak kaya. Menurut Maggie Ma lagi, golongan kaya di China tersangatlah kaya–raya & golongan miskin pula tersangatlah fakir.

Itulah sebabnya banyak pembangunan didirikan serta dimajukan di China kerana pembangunan itu hanyalah untuk golongan elit sahaja & bukanlah untuk rakyat China secara keseluruhannya. Golongan miskin terpaksa bekerja kuat hanya untuk meneruskan survival hidup mereka yang perit itu. Aku meneruskan sembang aku dengan Maggie Ma & bertanya “Kalau sudah begitu rupanya, kenapa pertumbuhan ekonomi negara China sangat luar biasa?” dan Maggie Ma menjawab “Kalau sudah ramai rakyat China yag miskin bekerja kuat untuk meneruskan survival hidup mereka & sekaligus mengkayakan lagi golongan kaya-raya di bumi China, bagaimana tidak pertumbuhan China tidak menjadi begitu luar biasa?” kemudian Maggie Ma menambah “Kami disini walaupun miskin, apa yang kami boleh buat selain bekerja kuat untuk meneruskan survival hidup? Negara kami bukanlah sebuah negara demokrasi yang membolehkan kami meyuarakan pandangan kami apatah lagi membuat demonstrasi jalanan” Aku terdiam seketika. Aku mula memikirkan tentang Negaraku, Malaysia. Tiba – tiba rasa kesyukuran itu mula terbit di sanubari ini. Semasa mula – mula aku menjejakkan kaki ke bumi Beijing, China ini, aku sudah mula merasa kagum dengan kemajuan yang mereka kecapi sehingga aku menyelar & mengecam negara sendiri tetapi ternyata negara aku mempunyai keunikannya tersendiri dalam membawa rakyatnya ke mercu kegemilangan.

Setelah semuanya puas membeli–belah, kami pun segera menuju ke bas persiaran kami untuk pergi ke restoran muslim halal untuk makan malam. Dalam perjalanan bas persiaran kami menuju ke restoran tersebut, aku perhatikan rakanku sedang memasukkan kad sim talian tempatan ke dalam telefon bimbitnya. Untuk pengetahuan kalian semua, sekiranya talian telefon bimbit kalian tiada ‘roaming’ tidak kiralah kalian pengguna Maxis, Celcom, DiGi, U Mobile atau Tune Mobile, kalian bolehlah membeli kad sim prabayar di sana untuk telefon atau sms. Aku menggalakkan kalian menggunakan talian China Mobile kerana liputannya yang lebih luas semasa berada di China. B-).

Setibanya kami ke destinasi yang berikutnya untuk makan malam, semua muka ceria semacam. Maklumlah setelah penat membeli – belah, akhirnya perut yang lapar dapat dikenyangkan. Selesai makan malam, kami berangkat pulang ke hotel dengan menaiki bas persiaran kami. Setibanya kami di hotel, kami balik ke bilik masing – masing tetapi ada antara kami tida terus melenakan diri. Emak aku mengajak aku keluar cari makanan seperti buah untuk dimakan. Kami keluar berjalan kaki & lebih kurang 500 meter dari bangunan hotel, terdapat gerai buah. “Lao ban niang, zhe ge duo qian ma?” (Bos, ini buah, berapa harga?) Aku bertanya kepada peniaga tersebut berapa harga sekotak strawberi yang terdapat di situ. “Na ge, yi xiang, yi shi ba kuai!” (Itu, satu kotak, harganya 18 yuan > lebih kurang RM9.00 duit Malaysia sekotak). “Ok, er xiang !” (Ok, 2 kotak!). Seorang warga tempatan memuji kebolehan aku berbahasa Mandarin dan bertanyakan aku datang dari negara mana & aku menjawab “Wo shi Malaixiya ren!” (Saya orang Malaysia!).

Melihat warga tempatan ini, aku rasa banyak juga yang beliau tahu mengenai Malaysia sebab beliau tanya aku bangsa apa? Melayu, Cina India atau apa? Aku cakap “Wo shi Malai ren buguo wo you de gong gong shi muslim hua ren !” (Saya orang Melayu tetapi saya ada atuk Cina Muslim). Seperti yang aku pernah nyatakan sebelum ini yang aku hanya boleh berbicara dalam Bahasa Mandarin hanya sedikit–sedikit & apabila warga tempatan itu terus berbicara dalam Bahasa Mandarin, aku menjawab “Shemian? Oppps, dui bu qi. Wo wang le. Wo keyi shuo hua wen yi dian dian. Wo bu mingbai ni xian zai shuo ge wo!” (Pardon? Opss, minta maaf, saya terlupa yang saya hanya boleh berbicara dalam Bahasa Mandarin sedikit–sedikit. Saya tidak faham apa yang awak cakap dengan saya sekarang.). Warga tempatan itu kata tidak apa & apa yang aku cakap tadi sudah cukup bagus. Itu katanya.

Setelah selesai membeli buah, aku & emak aku pun pergi ke kedai runcit yang berhampiran untuk membeli air berkarbonat. Di sini, kami tidak ragu – ragu untuk membeli air minuman berbanding membeli makanan kerana kami yakin air minuman di sini adalah halal tanpa was - was ( Tidak termasuk air beralkohol. Kalau aku tak cakap takut ada antara kalian yang membaca blog ini bendul sangat, B-D ). Setelah selesai beli buah & air minuman, kami balik semula ke bilik masing – masing. Aku menjamah sedikit strawberi sebelum aku melenakan diri. Jom TIDUR ! Wan An ! (Selamat Malam!).